The Regents
Guy Villari (lead), Sal Cuomo (first tenor), Ernie Maresca (baritone), and Chuck Fassert (second tenor) formed in the Bronx, NY, in 1958 as the Montereys. Signing with Seville Records, they cut two Maresca songs that went unreleased, and soon Donnie Jacobucci replaced a disappointed Maresca. They recorded their demonstration records at the Regents Sound Studios, prompting a name change to the Regents, but their first release didn't happen until 1961, three years after they started.
"Barbara Ann" was recorded in 1958, but more than 50 recording companies said "no," causing them to disband before 1959 rolled around. Jacobucci's younger brother Eddie revived the Regents by accident. His group, the Consorts, lacked original songs for an audition so they cut a version of "Barbara Ann" from an old demo Eddie found around the house. When the owner of Cousins Records heard the song, he decided to put it out, not by the Consorts, but by the Regents. With Eddie replacing Guy, the original group reunited, and Cousins released "Barbara Ann" in March of 1961. The stuttering doo wop became a number one record in New York; the demand was overwhelming and Cousins leased it to Roulette/Gee for worldwide distribution and saw it soared to number 13 pop and number seven R&B.
A second single, "Runaround," charted at number 28 pop and number 30 R&B; a third single, "Liar," didn't chart, and neither did a fourth, "Oh Baby." They disbanded but emerged in 1964 as the Runarounds, waxing and releasing five singles on as many labels. The Runarounds were Villari, Fassert, Ronnie Lapinsky, and Sal Corrente; their first single, "Unbelievable," on Nat King Cole's short-lived KC label in 1963 didn't sell nor did their last, "You Lied," on MGM in 1967. Again they separated but reunited as the Regents in 1973 to play the oldie circuit. A copy of "Barbara Ann" on the Cousin label fetches around 1,200 dollars; the same recording on Gee sells for 25 dollars or less.
© Andrew Hamilton /TiVo
-
-
The Album
Punk - New Wave - Paru chez Sanctuary Records le 1 janv. 1985
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Barbara-Ann
Rock - Paru chez Beverly Hills Records le 16 juil. 1961
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Twisting Echoes (Best Of)
Rock - Paru chez Rarity Records le 1 janv. 2004
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
More Than A Friend
Pop - Paru chez 3214386 Records DK2 le 22 mars 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara Ann (Barbara Ann)
Rock - Paru chez Liberation Hall le 26 févr. 1992
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Live At the A.M.-P.M. Discotheque
Musiques du monde - Paru chez Vintage Masters Inc. le 15 mars 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Regents - Music History
Jazz - Paru chez Vintage Jukebox le 15 avr. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Great Vocal Groups
Pop - Paru chez Play Digital le 28 févr. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara-Ann - The Best Of
R&B - Paru chez Master Classics Records le 1 mai 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Best of the Regents Doo Wop
Pop - Paru chez Old Gold Media le 23 oct. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Regents aka the Runarounds
Blues - Paru chez AMB le 1 mars 1996
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
I'm so Lonely / Barbara Ann (Remastered)
R&B - Paru chez AT THE HOP le 1 janv. 1960
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Remember the Regents
Pop - Paru chez Shami Media Group 3 le 25 janv. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
-
Celebrate Summer
Afrique - Paru chez The Gallo Record Company Vault le 27 août 1990
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Barbara-Ann
Rock - Paru chez Foggy Milan Records le 13 mars 2023
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo